An Ill Fate Marshalling

24

Year 1016 AFE

The short, wide Tervola in the boar mask walked slowly round the hilltop, stepping over torn bodies and mangled limbs. The setting sun cast long shadows across the battle­ ground. Crows leapt up swearing as he disturbed them. Flies buzzed, rising and falling in dense clouds. They masked the eyes of the dead, filling them with their eggs. „Where do they come from?" he murmured. „Why doesn't the wind blow them away?"

„Lord Ssu-ma?"

„Nothing, Lord Lun-yu. Nothing. Tell me. Will you report this as a great day in the history of imperial arms?"

„You sound displeased, Lord Ssu-ma."

Lord Ssu-ma Shih-ka'i was displeased. „This shouldn't have been. It was a criminal waste of lives."

„But we saw the end of Ragnarson." Lord Lun-yu made that sound like the crucial event of recent history.

„Did we, now? Quite a few of them got away."

„Not he. He stood here on the hilltop till the end. Let's find the body. We'll parade it before the assembled Tervola."

„We will not."

„Lord?"

„There are limits, Lord Lun-yu. While I don't share your feelings about Ragnarson, I understand them. But I won't allow his corpse to be made a showpiece. He was a great foeman. He deserves honorable treatment. Moreover, I'm in his debt. He saved my life the day we finished the Deliverer. As you well know. You were watching from Lioantung's wall."

Lord Lun-yu scowled behind his mask but did not pro­ test. Lord Ssu-ma was in high favor.

„I pity his kingdom without him," Shih-ka'i said. „Re-274 turn to the Princess. We're finished here. Report a great victory if you dare tell the lie. Tell her I'll send as many men to the Matayangan front as I can." „Lord..."

„Please go, Lord Lun-yu. As you noted, I'm not pleased. I wish to be alone."

„As you command, Lord." Lord Lun-yu withdrew.

Shih-ka'i slowly advanced to the hilltop, stepping around and over the fallen. Here and there men still breathed raggedly, moaned softly, cried out. They begged for water in a half dozen tongues. Below, his men were starting to clean up. They were finishing the western wounded. Their own they were carrying to headquarters. The Tervola there would decide which could be saved. Most who had survived this long would be. The Tervola had the Power to aid them in healing.

Shih-ka'i stared northward, toward the home of the wizard Varthlokkur. He shook his head. He did not under­ stand. A man didn't abandon his friends.

He reached the circle where the royal guard had made its stand. Kavelin's army had fought well. On this hill the heart and guts had been carved out of two legions. Shih-ka'i thought real winners and losers were hard to dis­ cern.

What madness had brought Ragnarson through the Gap? He had walked into the trap with his eyes open... . No. He hadn't. He'd believed Lord Hsung to be in command. He wouldn't have come had he known otherwise. And had Lord Hsung been here still, Ragnarsoncrazy gamble would have paid. Western Army would have been swallowed by disaster.

„I have salvaged the east, and now the west. And I feel nothing. Not even a little pride." He looked eastward. „Will she throw me at Matayanga next?"

He circled the heap of bodies marking the westerners's last stand. „This one. His name was Hardle? A great warrior, the Princess said. Sad. Ragnarson's champions went down with him. His kingdom will become a madhouse when those fugitives return." He looked across the plain. Columns of dust marked the whereabouts of fleeing west­ erners. „You could have won," he told their distant backs.

„You could have won. But you broke discipline when you needed it most."

His own men would have died to the last if never given the order to flee.

He spied the fallen King beneath several of his guards. „And that was the difference, my friend. That was the difference." He rolled one of the dead men off. „Maybe I'll raise you a monument. We shouldn't forget our great enemies." He heaved another dead man aside.

The King groaned.

„Well," said Shih-ka'i. „Well now. You're not completely dead, are you? Which, I suppose, means I have to repay my debt." He knelt, felt Ragnarson's pulse. It was strong. He heaved the last corpse off and examined the man. „Broken ribs. Punctured lung. Cuts and bruises. Otherwise, you're in good shape, my friend. They say you're extraordinarily lucky. And maybe they're right. Maybe your luck didn't turn all the way." He stood, faced his encampment, concen­ trated on the mask worn by his best life magician. His fingers wove subtle patterns in the air. „Come," he whis­ pered. „Come here."

Kristen unsealed the letter from Vorgreberg. Sherilee hovered over her shoulder. The messenger remained at the door, one eye on the street. A dozen troopers from the Palace Guard waited there. They were restless, troubled

„What is it, Kris?"

„Michael thinks there might be a big uprising. He wants us to leave the country. He's sending us to a friend in Tamerice."

Elma and Maykin entered carrying a heavy trunk. The messenger called outside, „Bring those carriages up, Slug."

„What are you doing?" Kristen asked.

Maykin replied, „We were told to go with you."

„Why should we go anywhere? I haven't seen any sign of trouble."

„You haven't been out, either, Lady. The kingdom is rushing toward civil war. The Queen has been putting ideas into the heads of the Lords of the Estates."

„That bitch. I'll cut her heart out."

„Calm down," Sherilee said. „Kris, we'd better go. If there is trouble, and she's behind it, it will find us first. You know that. She's doing this for Fulk. We'd better be some­ place else."

„What's the King doing?" Kristen asked plaintively. „Why doesn't he come back and stop it?"

„He will," Sherilee said. „When he's ready. And he'll get rid of inger, too. You watch."

Kristen folded the letter and rose. „This is scary, Sherry. Really scary. You're right. We'd better go."

An hour later they were in flight again, closely guarded by Slugbait and his squad. Unknown to anyone but Slug himself, and Trebilcock and Prataxis back in Vorgreberg, most of the royal treasury was concealed in false bottoms in the carriages.

„Are you satisfied now?" Nepanthe demanded. Tinkering with the far-seeing mirror, she had learned what had happened in the south. „Gjerdrum never did anything to you, did he? He was always a good friend to me. And Baron Hardle. ... He was the only one who could keep the Estates in line."

Varthlokkur stared at his dry old hands, not responding at all. He needed no outside torturer to rack him.

„You've done it again. Destroyed another kingdom. This time by inaction."

He rose and walked away, went out to the wind-swept wall and stared into the canyon's deeps. Radeachar hovered over his shoulder. Had the Unborn possessed a voice, it would have whined.

Dahl sat his horse apathetically. He had given up on escaping. These men watched him too closely. They kept him at the heart of their company. There were almost four hundred of them now, all hard veterans, managed by their Duke himself.

„Gales is coming," Sir Mortin called.

Dahl looked up. Gales and a half dozen scouts had returned from the checkpoint where the road left Altea for Kavelin. Gales reined in before the Duke. He looked puzzled.

„Well, Colonel? Can we cross?"

„Yes, Your Lordship. Easily."

„Why the long face?"

„Because there's no one at the checkpoint. The Alteans say they left day before yesterday."

„That's unusual?"

„Very. It's alarming. I'd guess it means all the troops are being gathered in anticipation of fighting farther east."

„There was no threat of war when you left?"

„None, Your Lordship. The King had irons in the fire, but the only reason I can imagine for mobilization would be internal."

„We'd better join Inger as fast as we can. Damn, but I wish we'd heard something. This silence is ominous."

Gales nodded. „Absolutely."

Dahl's heart quickened during the conversation. Fighting between the King's men and the Queen's? Kristen would be in danger. He had to get away. Somehow, anyhow, he had to elude these men.

Gales turned and rode ahead once more. The Duke spurred after him.

Gales turned when the Duke called after him. „Your Lordship?"

„I wondered if you'd noticed our guest's reaction to your news."

„I'm sorry. I didn't."

„He was thoroughly distressed. You haven't been able to enlist him?"

„He won't even listen."

„Pity."

„Ragnarson's people are that way. He inspires them with loyalty."

„You sound like you admire him. Eh. No matter. Save the excuses. Maybe Haas can help anyway. Without being on our side."

„Your Lordship?"

„He's quite taken with Ragnarson's daughter-in-law, right? You said she was sent into hiding before the Captures match."

„She was, yes."

„Think he knows where she is?"

„It's possible."

„Let him escape. Have him followed. If he goes to her, we're that much ahead. If he doesn't, we're out nothing. He isn't that important."

Gales nodded, concealing his disgust. „Eliminating po­ tential pretenders would make things a lot easier."

„That's what I was thinking."

„He'll get away tonight. Someone will make a stupid mistake."

„Good, Colonel. Good. And this is the border? Yonder lies the fabulous kingdom of Ravelin?"

„That's it, Your Lordship. Not much different from any other kingdom, just to look at." Gales nudged his mount forward. Not much different, he thought. But sweeter than most. He felt like he was coming home.

Trebilcock dropped into a chair in Prataxis's office. „She's still stalling," he said. „I gave her a deadline. Told her I couldn't hold Credence longer than tomorrow. I think I'll have to throw in a little something extra, just to get her off the pot."

Derel nodded. He didn't look up. He flipped a sheet of paper across. „Look at that."

Michael read it. „Where'd it come from?"

„Your friend Dantice. Along with a good-bye. Said he'll see you someday, maybe down Tamerice way. Thought he was making a funny poem."

„Uhm. So. He was right all along. Bragi did do it. Six days ago?"

„He'll be in Throyes by now." Derel pointed. A small, crude map lay before him. He was using a compass to estimate distances. „And maybe done."

„Done?"

„Or done for. Is Credence ready? If Dantice knows, it won't be long before the whole country does. I'd guess we don't have much more than twenty-four hours."

Michael strained, grunted as he got to his feet. „I'll tell Credence. He'll want to up the level of alert. Then I'll get to work on the Queen. Maybe we can get her out before the news breaks."

A young signalman burst into Liakopulos's chambers unannounced. „Sir ... Sir ... You'd better come to the tower, sir."

„What's wrong, lad? You look like you've seen a ghost."

The youth gulped several times before saying, „It ... it may be ... it may be worse. Sir, the King may be dead."

Liakopulos surged up. „What?"

„The message wasn't all in when Sergeant Tipke sent me, sir. But Maisak says there was a battle. Some of the men just got back. They claimed everyone else was dead."

„All right." Liakopulos grabbed his swordbelt and cloak. „Let's go. And calm down. There must be some mistake."

There wasn't. Liakopulos had the message repeated. It didn't tell him much more, or anything different the second time round, though it did so at some length. It added that survivors of the battle were just beginning to trickle in.

„That's a hopeful sign. Message to the commander of the Maisak garrison," Liakopulos told the signals sergeant. „Hold all survivors there till the whole story is clear. And don't relay anything to Vorgreberg without my personal okay. And Sergeant, I want you and your men to go into seclusion. I don't want any wild stories getting out before we know exactly what's happened. Understood?"

The sergeant was a veteran of both the civil and Great Eastern Wars. He understood. „I'll see to it, sir."

„Who has the next watch?"

„Romin, sir."

„That the Marena Dimura fellow?"

„Yes, sir."

„Very good. Carry on, then." Liakopulos returned to his quarters, tormented. Suppose the King was dead? His legal responsibility was clear. He had to inform Vorgreberg, facilitate an orderly transition. But what was his moral responsibility? As the law stood, power would pass to people bitterly opposed to everything Ragnarson, Fiana, and the old Krief had tried to build.

Where did he stand in the equation? Assuming Ragnarson had gone down, and Sir Gjerdrum and Baron Hardle with him, he now controlled the army. He and Credence Abaca. And the army, even weakened by defeat, could be a kingmaker.

He did not want that responsibility. He had come to Kavelin to repay a debt to Ragnarson, not to juggle its crown. „Ye Gods above and below, attend me. If that message be true, make it false. Take this off my shoulders."

Inger couldn't tear her gaze away from the body. Cold sweat covered her. She began shaking. Ladies-in-waiting guided her to a chair well away from the window. Very, very softly, huskily, she said, „That could have been me. If Karl hadn't stepped in front of the window when he did, that could have been me."

Hunsicker ducked away from the window, came to her. He was pale. „The man who loosed that shaft was one hell of an archer, My Lady. It had to come all the way from Fiana's Tower."

„I don't care where it came from, Hunsicker. I don't care if the bowman was skilled or lucky. What I care about is that a man is dead, and it would have been me but for fate's intercession." She strained for control. Her shakes sub­ sided. „I've had enough. They win. Send for Trebilcock."

„But My Lady... ."

„No more arguments. No more stalling. Karl is the last sacrifice to my cousin's ambitions. I want Trebilcock here within the hour, and you not being able to find him won't be an acceptable excuse."

„She gave in," Michael told Derel. „She's in a panic. And just in time. Gales is back. He's in Damhorst, along with another four hundred Itaskians."

„And still no sign of Haas?"

„None. I'm worried for him. But maybe we don't need him to learn what we wanted to know. The Duke of Greyfells is Gales' travelling companion."

„Greyfells? The Greyfells? The King's old enemy?"

„Not the same man, but probably of the same philoso­ phy."

„Then she hasn't just been acting for herself."

„I've doubted that for some time. But actually, I think if she'd had her way she would've been satisfied having Fulk declared crown prince."

„These little tete-a-tetes you and she are having haven't softened you, have they?"

Michael chuckled. „Hardly. But I know a little more about her. She isn't the villain we've tried to tell ourselves."

„Who is? We all like things black or white. Makes it easier on our consciences. How are you going to work this so she don't get wind of Gales?"

„Thought I'd move her to the old Dalthin manor tonight, then north through Anstokin and Volstokin later. We'll need to let Volstokin and Anstokin know she's coming. State trip home to see her family, and such."

„All right. I'll contact their ambassadors. You get her out of the castle. Damn, but I wish the King would get back."

„Better figure it'll take at least another three weeks. Probably longer. It'll depend on how much he fools around over there."

„Three weeks. A month. Can we hang on that long?"

„Credence has everything sewed up. Anybody tries any­ thing, he'll be all over them. And they know it. Cham says the Thing has gotten as still as death. We get Inger to sign away her rights, the worst will be over."

„Well, do it, man."

„Easy, Derel. I'm on your side."

„Nerves. Lack of rest and nerves, Michael."

„Back to let you know as soon as I can."

Inger greeted Trebilcock at the door. He said, „I under­ stand you've finally decided."

„I have. I'm packing now. You convinced me this time."

„How was that? You were still stalling yesterday."

„The arrow, Michael. Don't kid me. Nothing happens without you knowing, without your approval. Not in Vorgreberg."

„Ah, Inger, if you only knew. Hell, you do know. One whole hell of a lot goes on without me knowing. Wouldn't you say? What about an arrow?"

„Come here. Look at this and lie to me." She led him into another room.

A dead man lay on the floor. Michael knelt beside him. „Karl. How the hell?..."

„Through the window. The arrow was meant for me. Karl stepped in the way at the wrong time."

Michael went to the window. He looked out, toward Fiana's Tower. The arrow hadn't been meant for anyone. „I don't know anything about it, Inger. I will say this. The man who killed Karl was a hell of a bowman."

Inger hissed, exasperated. „So Hunsicker told me. I don't care. I do care about my life and the lives of my people. I didn't bring them here to be murdered."

„I'll find out who did it. He'll hang. Rest assured."

Uncertainly, she asked, „What if it was Abaca? You're always warning me about him."

„Assassination isn't his style. If he wanted you dead, he'd trump up some way to declare martial law, then bust in here and hang you before anybody could get in his way. It's something like that that he's been setting up. That's why I wanted you out. No, I don't think Credence did this."

Confused, Inger said, „That little bitch Kristen, then. She hates me because of Fulk."

„Maybe. Whoever, we've got to get you out of here. As soon as it's completely dark I'll take you to an abandoned manor north of the city. My own people will come in and pretend you're still here. As soon as I make the arrange­ ments, we'll send you north, through Anstokin and Volstokin."

„Why north?"

„Because the people trying to kill you won't expect you to go that way. Because Credence won't expect it. I've tried to make it clear I wish you no harm. Don't force me to state my feelings any more openly. That wouldn't be fitting in a servant of your husband."

Inger gave him a confused look. She sat down. „How soon?"

Michael glanced out the window. „Have to let the night settle in. Say two hours?"

„Won't all these people attract attention anyway?"

„They would if they all went. They're not going to. Pick four or five. The rest stay and keep up the pretense."

She gave him a hard look. „You sure you're not trying to get me out where you can... ?"

„Don't be silly. If I wanted you destroyed I could do it right here. Credence would be glad to help."

„Then why leave my people behind?"

„The attention. And, bluntly, as hostages. You mean much to me, Lady, but so does my duty to Kavelin."

Inger's face soured. „Duty. To Kavelin. I wish you knew how sick I am of hearing that."

Michael shrugged. „The King believes in what he's trying to do. Till he changes course, is succeeded, or I quit, my duty is to carry out his wishes."

„I take it you don't always agree with him."

Michael looked out the window, at a bloody sunset. „Not always. But he makes policy. The rest of us execute it."

„Prataxis makes policy. His pipe dreams are where Bragi gets his crazy ideas."

„Sometimes. Sometimes." You're walking a thin line here, Michael, Trebilcock told himself. Be very, very care­ ful.

Dahi Haas knocked on the door of the house in Sedlmayr. No one responded. He kept pounding. After a long time the door opened. Haas slipped inside.

„This must be the place," said the sergeant commanding the squad tracking Haas. He assembled his men. „You three go round back and see if there's another way out. Two of you cover it if there is. The other one come back and tell me." He faced the house, studied, waited.

One of his men asked, „Do we really have to do them all?"

„Duke's orders."

„But kids. Sarge, I never killed a kid."

„Knock it off. Just do your damned job." The sergeant was bitter and curt. He didn't like his orders either. But orders were orders.

One of the men he'd sent out returned. „There's a back door."

„Can two men cover it?"

„No problem."

„All right, gents. It's that time. And remember. Nobody out alive. Nobody. Or the Duke might shorten our necks. Let's go."

There was one survivor. Dahl Haas fought his way out the back door, leaving the men there with spilled guts. He lost his pursuers in the shadows of Sedlmayr's alleys.

General Liakopulos and four companions, clad as hunt­ ers, entered Vorgreberg unnoticed. The General hurried to his quarters, shifted into military dress, and sent a flurry of messages.

Prataxis arrived first. He had a grey look. „What are you doing here?" he demanded.

„Wait. I'll go through it for everyone at once. I've sent for Trebilcock and Abaca too."

Abaca arrived only minutes later. Trebilcock showed right behind him. Liakopulos's mere presence had alarmed them. „Sit," Liakopulos said. „I need help making a decision." „What's going on?" Prataxis asked. He was aquiver with nervous energy. Abaca remained standing. Trebilcock be­ trayed no emotion at all.

„The King is dead," Liakopulos said. „Be quiet!" he snapped as all three men babbled questions. „There was a battle. The King was surrounded. Only a fifth of our men escaped, apparently because they ran when they were sup­ posed to attack from the rear. I don't have the details. We'll look into it and apply discipline where needed. That's neither here nor there at the moment. The fact is, most of the army were slain. Including the King, Sir Gjerdrum, and Baron Hardle. The news began filtering in several days ago. I waited till I was sure it wasn't hysteria. I ordered the garrison commander at Maisak to hold the returnees there. I interrupted the telegraph so word wouldn't get through. Once I was sure I rode down to consult you all." Abaca growled, „Kill her before the word gets out." „You want to kill Fulk too?" Michael asked. „Goes without saying." „I don't kill babies." „I'll do it."

Liakopulos said, „No you won't, Credence. That's no defense of the crown. That's murder. That's regicide. Fulk became King the moment Ragnarson died."

„A sound legal point," Prataxis said. He still shook. „You're suggesting treason, Credence. And yet... ." „You see my quandary," said Liakopulos. „If we don't violate the law, the new masters of the law will rape what we've worked so hard to nurture."

„Two dead," Abaca snarled. „End of problems."

„If we ourselves scoff at the law, can we reasonably expect anyone else to respect it?" Prataxis demanded.

Liakopulos interjected, „I've been over these arguments with myself. It's a no-win situation. I've decided what I'll do. Your courses are up to you and your consciences."

Abaca inquired, „What are you going to do, sir?"

„I came here because the Guild owed Ragnarson. No Ragnarson, no debt. I'm going back to High Crag. If you three decide to obey the law, I'll stay to help insure an orderly transition. If you chose rebellion, I'll get out now. I can't join you, but I won't oppose you either."

Prataxis and Abaca nodded. That would give Credence sole command of the army. Abaca said, „The King's daughter-in-law is more sympathetic than Inger. Would she be regent for young Bragi?"

Prataxis replied, „The King's first choices were Mundwiller, Sir Gjerdrum, and Baron Hardle."

„Mundwiller, eh? I could work with him."

Liakopulos said, „We can talk forever, but talk isn't what's needed. We have to act. The people at Maisak can't keep the news quiet forever. Some of the survivors are sure to return over the smugglers' trails."

Prataxis said, „Michael, Kristen and the children will be in danger once the news breaks."

„I moved them out of the country already. With the money."

Abaca and Liakopulos looked askance. Neither Prataxis nor Trebilcock explained. Abaca asked, „Where do you stand, Trebilcock?"

„Right in the middle. Like all of us. I'll probably follow the General's example."

Prataxis said, „Same here."

„You three have somewhere else to go. I don't. This is my homeland." Abaca rose. „So be it, I guess. If I'm outvoted, I'm outvoted." He strode toward the door.

Liakopulos rose, said, „We'll have to see the Queen before the news breaks. Get her braced for the shock when it hits."

Michael said, „I'll take you to her, General. I'll meet you here in an hour. I have some things to do first. Derel, you bring Credence and Cham."

Abaca asked, „Why not just tell us where she is and we'll all meet there?"

„I don't think so," Michael replied. „The fewer who know, the less chance of trouble."

Abaca gave Trebilcock a hard look. „All right. Whatever you think." He departed.

„He's going to cause trouble," Prataxis said.

„Maybe," Michael admitted. „General, look for me with­ in the hour."

Liakopulos extended a hand. „Trebilcock, it's been nice. We had something here. I'm sorry it has to die this way. Prataxis, you too."

Derel shook hands and muttered, „Why did he do it? There was no sane reason for him to attack them."

Liakopulos said, „He had his neurotic streak, same as the Tervola. Let's hope he didn't die in vain, that the Tervola are satisfied for now."

Trebilcock grumbled, „That's all we need. Shinsan start­ ing a push. Well, later."

Prataxis said, „I'd better find Mundwiller," and followed Michael.

Liakopulos sat down again, closed his eyes, and tried to imagine what Kavelin might have become had the King not gone after his wild goose. He ended up shedding tears.